Bandon
Bandon or Droichead na Banndan in Irish (meaning the bridge of the Bandon River), is just 20 miles west of Cork city, in the heartland of some of the richest and most beautiful farmland in the country. This town is of huge historical importance, having been established under Queen Elisabeth I as a garrison town to protect the new English plantations. One of the townâs biggest assets is the Bandon River. Judges in the national Tidy Townâs competition once commented; âBandon, more than any town in the region has an abundance of natural habitat. The majestic Bandon River is a haven for wildlife.â Stocking salmon, sea trout and brown trout, the river is hugely popular with anglers and the resident heron.